Canon G1X Mark II Is Canon’s Next Point-And-Shoot

Canon has never been shy about making a point-and-shoot camera that is full of options and arguably better than some DSLRs. But with the G1X Mark II, it might have just gone a little bit overboard.

Where’s The Beef? In Here.

First of all, let’s talk sensors. The 1.5 inch 12.8 megapixel CMOS sensor may seem like a step down from the previous versions 14 MP, but what matters here is pixel size, and these pixels are much larger. That means you’ll get a better photo in general, as it’ll be less noisy and less prone to artifacting. And that’s good news if you like good pictures. The upgrade to a DIGIC 6 will also help the camera process images more quickly.

Lensman

Of course, a great sensor means nothing if you don’t have a good lens, and of course, Canon being Canon, they put a 24-120mm equivalent f/2-3.9 zoom lens on this particular upgrade. That’s a nice wide aperture, especially compared to other high-end point-and-shoot cameras. So, this camera has the basics down pat, but there are a few changes that may not necessarily be so happily received by the amateur who demands high quality work.

Selfie-Prone

First of all, there’s no viewfinder; you’ll need to spring for an EVF if you want one, which can be a hard pill to swallow with a camera already running $800. Secondly, the touchscreen LCD doesn’t flip outwards, just upwards. That’s great for taking selfies, but understandably, some of Canon’s more hardcore fans are less than happy about the change. It also has fewer physical knobs and buttons to twiddle for adjusting settings, as you might have guessed when you read the word “touchscreen.”

Still, the camera is a great one, especially considering how Canon went back to basics instead of trying to join the epic pixel wars. If you need a high-end point and shoot, this might just be your $800 friend.